Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 156 Panic
"We will now refer to the three landing points on the west bank of the Hashim River, from north to south, with three code names: [North Dun], [Central Base], and [South Wedge]."

Ibrahim pointed to three nodes on the map with his baton: "Among them, [Beidun] faces the least pressure and has relatively open terrain. I believe that this should be identified as the main breakthrough point for the subsequent echelons of the main force, which best fits our strategic priority of heading north to the Golan Heights."

He shifted the command to the south: "The South Wedge faces the greatest pressure because it is close to Jericho. The enemy will never sit idly by and let us establish a beachhead here. However, once we can consolidate and expand the landing zone here, we can take the opportunity to cut off the enemy's logistical supply to the front lines and open up more battlefields."

Lu Lin stood in front of the military map, but his perspective had actually shifted to the sky.

At this moment, he was above the southern wedge, where the fighting was indeed more intense than in other locations. The entire area was shrouded in a layer of lingering smoke, while flashes of light and fire from explosions streaked across the ground.

At the same time, Lu Lin also saw that a large number of inverted pentagonal armor markings were approaching the two flanks of the vanguard in the distance, and the size was about two to three tank battalions.

Ibrahim noticed Lu Lin's "focused yet thoughtful" expression, which he was all too familiar with; it meant his commander was using his little brain again.

"What kind of crazy idea are you coming up with now?"

"Ok?"

Ibrahim laughed and said, "Although your paving strategy is indeed very effective, as the chief of staff, I must remind you that what follows is a true contest of will and strength. Zion cannot be defeated by petty tricks."

"Black cat or white cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat!"

Lu Lin rolled his eyes: "Besides, how could I not understand this principle?"

He then picked up the radio and called the heavy artillery brigade in the rear: "This is headquarters. All artillery units, listen to my orders—"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The blast wave sent black soil dozens of meters into the air, and the smoke and dust mixed together, blurring the view.

Brigadier General Cohen leaned his upper body out of the turret and used the scope to observe the battlefield movements several kilometers away.

In fact, the Chieftain is already equipped with a periscope that can rotate 360 ​​degrees, so the commander doesn't even need to rotate the turret to independently view or measure the distance to distant targets.

However, the act of "peeking out to command" is still popular among most Zion commanders, especially in the rear of the battlefield. Peeking out to command can provide commanders with a freer field of vision and the ability to sense pheromones on the battlefield.

Gunshots, engines, the whistling of shells, and the smell of gunpowder and diesel fuel in the air.

"The Third Battalion will feign a move to the left flank to draw enemy tank fire. The First Battalion will use the dry riverbed on the right to outflank the enemy and seize the forward reverse slope's line of sight in advance. No firing is permitted without my order!"

Brigadier General Cohen's voice was precisely transmitted to each combat unit via radio. Under his command, the Tin Armored Forces operated like precision instruments, turning every tiny undulation of the terrain into a tactical advantage.

Through the telescope, the tanks of the Third Company had already engaged in firefight with Shuangzhi's vanguard. An M60A1 attempted to advance to the earthen slope ahead by making an "S" shaped maneuver, but was met with concentrated fire from the tank platoon that Cohen had deployed in advance. Three armor-piercing shells hit the turret and frontal armor directly, turning the M60A1 into a huge fireball.

Brigadier General Cohen's lips curled slightly upward, revealing a hint of the aloofness befitting an ace commander.

Six months ago, he was a major general in Zion, leading the 45th Armored Brigade of Zion stationed in Ghanam, west of Al-Ilag, near the Euphrates River.

To the east, he defended against the Al-Iraq government forces from Baghdad; to the north, he instilled fear in the menacing Kurds.

He was originally a high-ranking official, young and with a distinguished military record. His former superior was General Yeshavishin, so he had a promising future.

Until the Yom Kippur War broke out, he encountered the Shuangzhi Northern Expeditionary Force heading south, and met his opponent, Amir.

Two decisive defeats not only cost him Garnam, but also shattered Zion's strategic plans in Al-Iraq, bringing his illustrious military career to an abrupt end.

If it weren't for General Yeshe Wisconsin, the current Commander-in-Chief of Zion, protecting him, he would already be in Galilee growing potatoes.

Although he has been demoted to brigadier general, he has been given command of a new armored brigade. This move by Yeshavishin is to allow him to atone for his mistakes and also to give him a chance to make a comeback.

Forty minutes earlier, his 8th Armored Brigade had received a death order from Commander Shmuel—to plug the breach at all costs.

The battle escalated into a fierce, white-hot phase from the moment the two sides made contact. Both sides were determined to fight to the death; shells whistled across the battlefield, and vehicles were constantly hit, burning, and exploding.

What troubled Brigadier General Cohen was that, among the Twins forces, the vehicles that caused the most damage to Zion were not tanks, but light vehicles equipped with unknown types of anti-tank missiles. These vehicles were highly mobile and had an alarmingly high hit rate, making it extremely difficult for his tanks to survive in an exposed state.

"The 8th Brigade is calling for artillery support. The enemy's infantry and anti-tank teams are too active. We need more effective suppression!"

Brigadier General Cohen did not hesitate at all and immediately called for fire support. Zion's military system is known for its flexibility and adaptability. Not only brigade commanders like him, but even ordinary soldiers have the authority to call for air and artillery fire (depending on the situation).

In the Arab world during the Yom Kippur War, a brigade-level soldier had to report to headquarters before calling in artillery.

"Report your location."

"D5 area, Xu Jin's barrage extends forward 500 meters!"

"receive."

About twenty minutes later, Major General Cohen heard the roar of his own artillery fire from the sky. Shells rained down on the enemy positions, raising clouds of dust.

Brigadier General Cohen observed through his binoculars that although the artillery fire effectively contained the enemy's offensive (especially the anti-tank vehicles), the effect was less than expected.

This inevitably reminded him of the opponent he faced during his defense of Garnam, whose control over artillery was terrifying.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his distracting thoughts; now was not the time for sentimentality.

"Attention all!"

Brigadier General Cohen ordered over the radio: "Advance under artillery cover. The 3rd Battalion advances to the second ridgeline and establishes defensive firing positions! The 1st Battalion provides suppressive fire, focusing on eliminating anti-tank vehicles!"

He wanted to seize the window of opportunity created by the shelling to force the Arab coalition forces down the reverse slope.

But at this moment——

A completely different, chilling shriek suddenly tore through all the noise of the battlefield from high above, the sound coming closer and closer, like the whistle of death.

Cohen's blood seemed to freeze instantly.

That voice... he knew it all too well; it had startled him awake from his dreams countless times since the war!
is 203!

Before he could react, the first heavy shell landed on the reverse slope to his right, followed by a deafening roar that spread across the ground like ripples.

Boom——! ! !
The massive explosion shook the earth, and a mushroom cloud carrying tank fragments and debris from the secondary explosion shot into the sky!

The entire slope vanished, along with the three tank platoons of Chieftains that were also evaporated.

The powerful impact even caused Cohen's command vehicle, which was not far away, to shake violently!
"No"

But before Brigadier General Cohen could react, a second shot followed, and then a third!

Those terrifying screams followed one after another.

There was no test firing, no secondary calibration, no regard for terrain or camouflage, and a complete disregard for the common sense of modern warfare!
Every heavy artillery shell seemed to have eyes, accurately locating every tank group in Zion!

It's him, it's definitely him!
Brigadier General Cohen's eyes were filled with fear; at this moment, it was as if a nightmare had come to life.

"Your mom...back up! Quick!!"

He instinctively yelled, and the driver quickly shifted into reverse. Just as they had reversed a few dozen meters, a 203mm round landed precisely where Brigadier General Cohen had been standing. The massive blast wave even lifted the tank, which weighed tens of tons, slightly off the ground!
All the composure, professionalism, and pride that had been on Cohen's face vanished instantly, replaced by a fear that came from the deepest recesses of his memory. His face turned ashen, and his breathing became rapid and disordered.

That man, it must be that man!

The young driver was terrified and stammered, "Sir...Sir! How did they do that?! What should we do?!"

"Retreat!! Everyone retreat!!"

Cohen snatched the radio, his voice already distorted. He knew that if he hesitated for even a second longer, his entire armored brigade would be wiped out.

He shouted, "We've been targeted by that Amir! Get out of here!!"

(End of this chapter)